Archer Heights

Archer Heights is home to Chicago’s blue collar working folks. The community is located on the southwest side of Chicago. It boasts a larger population percentage of families with children than the average Chicago community. The name Archer Heights itself comes from the street, Archer Avenue, which connects downtown Chicago to the suburbs on the southwest side of Chicago.
You will find streets lined with ranches and brick bungalows typical or the working class which call Archer Heights home. There is also a substantial amount of the population in Archer Heights that are Polish.
The community has a lot to offer in the way of bakeries, cafes , small food shops and delis as one might suspect in a Polish Community. While walking down the streets of Archer Heights you probably will encounter someone speaking Polish along the way.
Polish Culture is noted throughout the community. It is home to the Polish Highlanders Alliance.

Archer Heights is a solid, blue collar neighborhood with a strong Polish community.

I'm not the biggest fan of Polish food, but that doesn't mean there isn't some good food on the table if you're so inclined. There are non-Polish restaurants, but the main descriptive feature in terms of dining is the Polish experience.

The neighborhood atmosphere is also very welcoming and there are a number of families who have been born, raised, and spent their adult lives in Archer Heights. That kind of community loyalty is pretty rare, whether in Chicago or not, so you know there's definitely something here worth preserving.

The biggest downsides to the neighborhood would be the relatively small and modest homes. They're not expensive, but they're also not particularly noteworthy. Just solid, middle-class homes that you can raise a family in.

Not much of a tourist destination, and you have to like the food to love the dining, but it's a solid, safe neighborhood just the same.

Have you ever walked into a neighborhood and felt like you stepped back in time? That's what Archer Heights feels like. From what I understand nothing has changed, literally nothing, for decades. The demographic has remained consistent and the same families who came to the area decades ago still live and work there. It isn't uncommon to hear that three generations of the same family are still living in the neighborhood; a relative oddity for Chicago.

Archer Heights has been and remains predominantly Polish and the culture is kept very much alive on the main shopping streets. The food is incredible and the charm and old-world style is reminiscent of the big cities of the 1940s and 1950s. If you are looking to find authentic polish fare this is probably one of the best neighborhoods for it. There is something especially friendly and charming about the area.

The living accommodations are modest to average. There is nothing there that will blow someone's mind or suggest great wealth has been found, but the properties are fairly well maintained and cared for and the neighborhood has generally been looked after well. It feels safe, if not a bit busy during the day, but overall it is a nice, clean area to call home or to visit for some authentic food.

Maybe you think of it as that Polish neighborhood – you can’t wander far without hearing Polish on the tongues of residents in Archer Heights – or maybe you know it as a place that resembles the sort of old-world south side Chicago ideal. Here you’ll find a few condos – marking the latest editions to the neighborhood – but mostly the Archer Heights real estate market offers older brick walk-ups.

Restaurant-wise, this Polish stronghold has the excellent Polish food you’d expect from such a place. Szalas Restaurant is no doubt the first place that most people think of when they think of Archer Heights eateries, but the Bobak Sausage Company is another stop that sees rather large dinner crowds for their buffet-style offerings. Bobak is both restaurant and grocery store – and notably authentic. If you’re in the area and you’re looking for a more Chicago-oriented, “southwest side” style treat, Nicky’s Hot Dogs on South Pulaski Road comes highly recommended.

Archer Park is one of the biggest neighborhood draws – locals can’t get enough of the baseball/softball fields, and the spacious lawns where residents bring their dogs and/or Frisbee games. Summer sees outdoor movie showings here, which tend to draw a family-friendly sort of crowd.

This historically Eastern European Chicago community has always been predominately Polish with some Italians. Recently, Hispanics have been moving in as well. It's mix of commercial shops, mostly still catering to Polish customers, and residential dwellings hasn't lost its Old World Charm.

It is named for Archer Road which runs along its side just Northeast of Midway Airport. Manufacturing is the base of the economy of this working-class community of 12, 656, according to the 2000 census.

It boasts several parks including playgrounds and playlots. There are plenty of good restaurants and here are three that folks in the community enjoy:

1. Illinois Bar and Grill
Midway Airport 5700 South Cicero Avenue
Chicago, IL 60638-3831
(773) 838-8989‎

The Polish sausage is highly recommended. People also say there's a shortage of good places to eat around Midway, and that this is one of the best.

2. LaLo's (Midway)
5757 S. Cicero Ave.
Chicago, IL 60638-3831
(773) 838-1604

One of the best known and well-recommended Mexican restaurants around. Their margaritas are famous.

3. Szalas Restaurant
5214 S. Archer Ave.
Chicago, IL 60632-4702
(773) 582-0300

When in Rome... This is definitely an Old World Polish Restaurant. People claim it resembles a restaurant you would find in Poland. There's a live band too.

It must be mentioned that Comiskey Park, home of the Chicago White Sox, is right there too. So are 31 colleges, 101 hotels, 21 museums (see list) and 50 libraries. People in Poland have one of the lowest illiteracy rates in the world and very much value learning and culture. It is seen here too.

Archer Heights has been pretty consistent for its history. It has been predominantly white, blue collar, and residential for the past 90 years.

The area is and has been a predominantly Polish area. Which is fantastic, especially around Mardes Gras, Fat Tuesday, aka Paczki Day.

It is an residential area in which most homeowners take great pride in their property which adds to the areas appeal.

So it is nice place to live, not such a great place to go club hopping.